INDY ELEVEN GAMEDAY PREVIEW
Indy Eleven vs Minnesota United FC
Saturday, October 17, 2015 – 7:30 p.m. ET
Michael A. Carroll Stadium – Indianapolis, IN

WATCH LIVE:
TV: WISH-TV (Central Indiana) 
Streaming Video: ESPN3.com (U.S) and various ESPN online platforms (international)

LISTEN LIVE:
Local radio (SPANISH): Exitos Radio 1590 AM
Streaming audio (SPANISH): www.Exitos1590.com

FOLLOW ONLINE:  
In-game updates: Follow the @IndyElevenLive Twitter feed
Live stats: Visit the NASL.com MatchCenter 
Game Hashtag: #INDvMNU

Click here for the full NASL standings page
Click here to see the Fall NASL Schedule

TEAM RECORDS: 
Indy Eleven:
Fall Season: 3W-5D-9L, 14 pts., 11th place
Combined Season: 6W-9D-12L, 27 pts., 10th place

Minnesota United FC:
Fall Season: 10W-5D-2L, 35 pts., 2nd place
Combined Season: 13W-10D-4L, 49 pts., 2nd place

GAME NOTES:  
Indy Eleven Game Notes
Minnesota Game Notes

HISTORY vs. MINNESOTA

The “Boys in Blue” will welcome Minnesota United FC to “The Mike” for the second time in 2015 on Saturday night, and while the “Loons” have already clinched a spot in The Championship, they still have plenty to play for with both the Fall Season and Combined Season titles on the line across the final three weeks of play.

Indy Eleven has struggled against Minnesota going 1W-0D-4L all-time, but that one win was indeed memorable – a 2-0 triumph almost a year ago this week last Oct. 11^th counting as Indy’s first home win in NASL play, snapping a 12-game winless streak to start its tenure in the league.  Both meetings this season have resulted in losses for the “Boys in Blue,” a 1-3 defeat in the Circle City on May 16 and a narrow 0-1 setback the last time they faced each other on Sept. 2 at NSC Stadium.

ALL-TIME INDY vs. MNU RESULTS

Saturday vs. MNU           7:30 p.m. ET 
Sept. 2, 2015 @ MNU              0-1 L 
May 16, 2015 vs. MNU             1-3 L 

Oct. 11, 2014 vs. MNU             2-0 W 
Aug. 16, 2014 @ MNU             1-5 L 
May 3, 2014 vs. MNU               2-3 L

INFIRMARY UPDATE – INJURIES MOUNTING DOWN THE STRETCH

Indy Eleven’s Oct. 3^rd game at Jacksonville was rough on the injury front, but it was trumped the last time out last Saturday against San Antonio.  During the match, the “Boys in Blue” saw Dane Richards (L ankle sprain) and Dragan Stojkov (L shoulder subluxation) removed from the game in the 14^th and 63^rd minutes, respectively, after being injured by physical challenges by the Scorpions.

Midfielder Victor Pineda would grind through to the end, but a reaggravation of a hairline fracture in a rib had him banged up as well.  While Richards’ injury will rule him out of action for the remaining of the 2015 season, Stojkov and Pineda might still be able to return to the pitch before the end of the campaign. Defender Kyle Hyland saw his season end a week prior at Jacksonville after suffering an adductor injury in the 1-1 draw.

Defender Marco Franco, who was also injured in that road tie at Jacksonville (right 1^st toe), is set to return after sitting out last Saturday against San Antonio. In addition, midfielder Brad Ring has been upgraded to probable from a left foot stress fracture that has sidelined him for the past three matches. 

RECORD REPEATS ITSELF 

Through its first 27 games, Indy Eleven has compiled a 6W-9D-12L record – the exact same mark it registered during its 2014 inaugural season.
 

CHASE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP

The math is next to impossible for Indy Eleven to claim the fourth and final spot in The Championship alongside Ottawa, Minnesota and New York … but the possibility does still remain. Rather than list the myriad results that need to occur, the “Cliffs Notes” version is simple – Indy Eleven has to win out and look to tie any number of squads that can land on 36 points AND enjoy the goal differential tiebreaker against said squad(s).

Here’s the Week 16 schedule that Indy Eleven fans will be following closely to see if their “Boys in Blue” can survive the long road to the postseason this weekend (home team listed first) …

• Indy Eleven vs. Minnesota United FC (Saturday, 7:30 pm)
• Atlanta vs. Tampa Bay (Saturday, 7:30 pm)
• Fort Lauderdale vs. Carolina (Saturday, 7:30 pm)
• Jacksonville vs. FC Edmonton (Saturday, 7:30 pm)
• Ottawa vs. San Antonio (Sunday, 3:00 pm)

WHO TO WATCH, INDY ELEVEN EDITION – MF DYLAN MARES

Back on the score sheet for the first time since July 25th against New York, Dylan Mares will need to play a big role for Indy's offense down the final stretch of the season. With Dane Richards sidelined due to an ankle injury, Mares appears to be slotted into a more offensive role for the Boys in Blue and will have to produce if Indy looks to snap their current skid. 

Now alone atop the stat page with a team-high four goals on the 2015 season, Mares will likely draw a lot of attention. Even if Mare cannot finish a play himself, he can also set another man in checkers up with an assist like he has four times this year, another team-high. 

WHO TO WATCH, SCORPIONS EDITION – FW CHRISTIAN RAMIREZ

With Indy Eleven once again forced to get creative on the back line, the "Boys in Blue" will need to clamp down on Loons forward Christian Ramirez, who leads United FC with 11 goals and six assists on the season. Ramirez, who is not one of Minnesota's two nominees for the NASL's Golden Ball Award, got off to a slow start but has been prolific during the fall season. Ramirez, who posted Minnesota's lone goal in their 1-0 October 3rd win against Tamp Bay, failed to score during Minnesota's last match, but remains the man to keep an eye on as Indy searches to surprise a team near the top of the NASL table - much like it did at this time last year against the Loons.